Is it okay for me to link to a restaurant that I'm review in my blog?

I'm starting a new blog to review restaurants. Would it be kosher if I linked to the restaurant's website as a quick link/the menu as well?



Thanks!Is it okay for me to link to a restaurant that I'm review in my blog?
There are two points of view from which I will examine your question: a business point of view and a journalistic point of view.



Providing a link to the restaurant you review would give readers additional information about the restaurant in terms of hours of operation, location and contact information. You could also include that information in your blog, therefore skipping the necessity of adding the link to the restaurant.



Some might consider providing a link to the restaurant that you review a form of advertising. You must ask yourself if you could objectively review the restaurant that you seem to be promoting through the addition of the link.



But at the heart of your question is the purpose of the Internet. The World Wide Web is largely an open-source platform where information is shared and credit is given where credit is due.



Therefore, you might consider adding a link to the restaurant and asking the restaurant to add a link to your website in the interest of promoting fair exchange. By doing this, you might increase traffic to your website and in turn, to theirs. This would be a win-win, from a business standpoint.



But what is the purpose of your blog?



To consider the question from a journalistic standpoint, ask this question: what is your obligation to your readers? Is it to provide them with a fair and honest appraisal of the establishment? How would readers perceive your action of placing a link to the restaurant if the food was less than superlative?



Should you not choose to add a link to the restaurant, you are free, presumably, to review the restaurant objectively, or honestly and fairly.



From a journalistic perspective, should you include a link to the restaurant that you review, the perception by the general public might be that your review, and subsequent reviews of other restaurants, will only cover the positives about the eatery and not the negatives.



So, the answer to your question all depends upon your intent regarding your blog.



Good luck with your blog and have fun!